PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. are teaming up to pursue the development of a fully missionized Dash 8-400 aircraft.
Dubbed the Dash 8 P-4, the new plane will be well suited to maritime patrol, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as other applications. Modified with auxiliary fuel tanks, the Dash 8 P-4 will have superior range, endurance, and time-on-station.
“PAL Aerospace is thrilled to work with De Havilland Canada on this important initiative for our company,” said Jake Trainor, CEO of PAL Aerospace. “The considerable cabin space, payload capacity, best-in-class airspeed profile and advantageous operating economics of the Dash 8-400 platform, combined with De Havilland Canada’s proud 92-year history of innovation and leadership in aircraft design and manufacturing, provide an ideal foundation from which to launch the Dash 8 P-4 program.”
The new plane will target a significant global market for missionized turboprop aircraft, harnessing the unique capabilities of the Dash 8-400 platform, in combination with PAL Aerospace’s specialized aircraft modification, technology integration and special missions operation.
PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Canada are currently working together to offer a comprehensive Dash 8 P-4 MPA solution for the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s ongoing maritime surveillance aircraft procurement.
“PAL Aerospace’s unmatched credentials in the design and modification of [maritime patrol and intelligence] aircraft, their understanding of the Dash 8, and their more than 40 years’ experience in special missions operations are unique in Canada and around the world,” said David Curtis, executive chairman of Longview Aviation Capital, De Havilland Canada’s parent company. “We are excited to collaborate on this initiative and believe strongly that the Dash 8 P-4 will prove to be a market leading solution while supporting highly skilled employment and the development of critical intellectual property here in Canada.”
This new collaboration affirms commitments from both PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Canada to continue the development of multi-role configurations for the Dash 8-400 aircraft. The two companies will continue to cooperate in business development and marketing activities while fortifying long-term support, developing training capacity and combining resources to ensure superior aircraft performance.
